The Republican file photoLongmeadow High School's Matt Grippo won the 500 freestyle and placed second in the 100 backstroke Saturday at the state Division II swimming and diving championships at Harvard University.

CAMBRIDGE – For a swimmer who thought he was a sprinter, Longmeadow’s Matt Grippo took to the 500 freestyle rather well, if the state championship medal hanging around his neck is any indication.

The senior captured first place in the 500 free with a time of 4 minutes, 40.12 seconds and brought home a second-place medal in the 100 backstroke during Saturday’s state Division II boys swimming and diving championships at Harvard’s Blodgett Pool.

Grippo was joined by East Longmeadow’s John Estanislau as state champions from Western Massachusetts. Estanislau won the 50 freestyle in 21.95.

Wayland won the state championship with 154 points, followed by Weston with 141 and Bishiop Feehan with 131.

Grippo’s first two years of swimming was in the sprints, It wasn’t until last year that he realized he had a talent for the 500.

“I just never tried it, i was a backstroke guy,” Grippo said. “Then last year I said this is getting kind of boring so I’m going to try something new.

“I swam the 500 all year just getting ready for this one moment,” Grippo said. “I’m just so happy. Seeded in the fourth heat, Grippo had a front row seat of the competition.

“Seeing other kids swimming their best times makes you think other kids will, too,” Grippo said. “That was just a tough heat, but getting (first place) just blows me away.”

The Lancers brought just four swimmers – Grippo, his brother James, Josh Kent and Killian Hennessey – which was good enough for eighth place in the 200 medley relay and 10th in the 400 freestyle relay.

The Republican file photoEast Longmeadow High School's John Estanislau won the 50 freestyle at Saturday's state Division II swimming and diving championships.

With Estanislau leading them, the East Longmeadow Spartans turned in a good performance. Estanislau also swam in the fourth heat of his race and won the event in 21.95 seconds.

“It feels good,” he said. “I was nervous watching the times come up and watching to see if someone would go under 21.”

Estanislau did not have as good a performance as he would have liked in the 100 freestyle, placing eighth. But he led the 200 freestyle relay team of Jacob McCarty, Andrew Zemanek and Ryan Bobianski to a fifth place finish, and the team placed sixth in the 400 free relay.

Holyoke Catholic’s Pat Geraghty turned in a fine performance in the 100 butterfly, swimming in 52.98 seconds for a second-place finish to Pat Myers of King Philip, the defending champion in the event.

Geraghty also swam the 500 freestyle and came in eighth.

Monson’s Gavin Easton also had a second-place finish, swimming the 100 freestyle in 48.57. He was also seventh in the 200 freestyle.

Colin Machat of Northampton was sixth in the 100 freestyle and seventh in the 50 freestyle while teammate Joel Bierwert placed fourth in the diving.